Crossword solution

The next-to-outermost circuit listed seven of DANTE’S nine circles of HELL. (No room for GLUTTONY or TREACHERY).

The puzzle’s title, Rapid Sea, is an anagram of Paradise, i.e. Paradise Lost. The preamble is based on PL 1.34-36: The INFERNAL SERPENT, whose guile stirred up with ENVY and REVENGE, DECEIVED the mother of MANKIND. SATAN is the protagonist and MILTON the poet.

The unclued lights include a consecutive pair of double letters. 24/31 and 34/2 are the pairs and 13 and 41 include three pairs, albeit not all consecutively.

COUGHS AND SNEEZES SPREAD DISEASES could explain the three other unclued pairs, which are anagrams of air-borne illnesses: ANNULI + FEZ => INFLUENZA, SEE + MEAL => MEASLES, STRIP + USES => PERTUSSIS (whooping cough). CARNIVOROUS at 8D which is an anagram of CORONAVIRUS had to be highlighted.

Solvers had to highlight the BINARY (101010111110) and HEXADECIMAL (ABE) forms of the PUZZLE NUMBER (2750), thereby both filling in the otherwise-isolated squares and, via the latter hex form, explaining the significance of the title.

The unclued lights are SATELLITES of the major planets, with the duos appearing at 9D, 13D and 39A, and five appearing around SATURN (at 29D).

The unclued entries all contain capital cities, as does the name of the compiler (MADRIGAL/RIGA).

‘TRUMPETY TRUMP, TRUMP, TRUMP, TRUMP’ (1A/36A/1D/4D) is from the song NELLIE THE ELEPHANT (21D/15D). She escaped from the CIRCUS (31D) at NIGHT (35D). Title: another extract from the song.

The unclued lights form the chain (which may start at any of the words) as follows: LUSTRE/TREMOR/MORTAR/TARPON/PONCHO/CHOSEN/SENSEI/SEICHE/CHESTY/STYLUS and then back to LUSTRE.

Unclued lights are leaders of the Labour party. First prize E.P.

The unclued lights are DOCTORS and all can be verified in Brewer.

The unclued lights (10/30/39 and 16/41, 28/35 and 30/32) are WALTZES by Johann Strauss II, apart from (THE) SKATERS Waltz which was composed by Waldteufel. First prize Jon Owen, London Runners-up John Henson, Windsor; J.

The initial and final trio of letters of the eight nine-letter unclued lights are reversals of each other. This property is suggested by the ‘other title’ – There and Back Again – of the puzzle’s title The Hobbit. First prize Tom Rollinson, Borehamwood, Herts Runners-up Richard Higson, Rugby, Warwickshire; Norman Watterson, Hillsborough, Co.

The unclued lights reveal ‘It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done,’ said by Sydney CARTON towards the end of A Tale of Two Cities by Charles DICKENS. First prize Jane Hudson, Eye, Suffolk Runners-up Gordon Hobbs, Woodford Green, Essex; D.P.

The unclued lights are ‘Some less than objective definitions’, listed among the section at the rear of Chambers 13th edition. First prize E. and S.

The eight unclued entries are the names of Verdi operas: FALSTAFF, AIDA, NABUCCO, ERNANI, IL TROVATORE, LA TRAVIATA, RIGOLETTO, OTELLO. The puzzle’s title suggests an anagram of the composer’s name, Verdi.

The ship was HMS Bellerophon, nicknamed BILLY RUFFIAN (11A/14A), whose BATTLE honours included THE GLORIOUS FIRST OF JUNE, THE NILE and TRAFALGAR and whose most famous passenger was NAPOLEON who surrendered to her after Waterloo. Her final role was as a prison HULK (23D). Title: having 74 guns she was a ‘third-rate’. First prize D.C.

The unclued lights can precede or follow ROYAL. The preamble should have read: Seven unclued lights (two of two words) follow and four precede a word defined by the title. Doc apologises for the error. First prize Andrew Bell, Shrewsbury, Shropshire Runners-up C.R. Haigh, Hassocks, W.

Associations with BLACK were 7 SABLE, 25 BOYCOTT and 32 SOMBRE; with CUR 6A RASCAL, 14 VARLET and 20 WRETCH; and with RANT 1A HARANGUE, 15 TIRADE and 24 RAIL. First prize Brian Taylor, Horwich, Bolton Runners-up Laura Gould, Shrewsbury; A.

The unclued lights can follow QUEEN’S, all of which are verifiable in Brewer. First prize Fred Rainbow, Birmingham Runners-up Andrew Durham, Billinghurst, W.